20 Nintendo Switch Tips and Tricks Most People Overlook

03.06.2024 - 00:25 / howtogeek.com / Nintendo

The Nintendo Switch's mix of innovation and nostalgia pushed it into the hands and hearts of the greater game-playing public. While the direct, user-friendly interface makes it easy for a newcomer to play their favorite games, the beloved Mario machine still holds some surprises for even the most enfranchised player.

1 Change Your Region to Access Region-Restricted Games

Anyone who has hunted down a Japan-only shooter knows the pain of region-locked games. That sinking feeling that arises as you realize that the freshly eBayed copy of Raiden DX is just expensive shelf decor.

But thanks to a small loophole courtesy of Nintendo, you can now access a broader selection of games by going to "System Settings" and simply changing the region under the "System" tab. Launch the eShop and grab whatever you like.

2 Check Your Battery Life Anytime

Have you looked up from your "just one quick Hades run" only to realize that darkness has fallen? Double-checking the battery life of your Switch mid-game to avoid lost progress is easier than you'd expect. When you press and hold down the Home button, a quick menu will pop up and display the current battery life alongside other options.

3 Make Additional Profiles

You can circumvent the one-save-per-game crisis by creating extra user profiles. Go to System Settings > Users, and then select "Add User." Each profile maintains its own game progress and preferences, allowing you to experience different simultaneous playthroughs of your favorite games. We're looking at you, Tears of the Kingdom.

4 Find Hidden Sounds on Unlock Screen

If you ever wanted to unlock your Switch to the sound of a honking clown horn or a series of other amusing sounds, then you are in luck. You can discover a series of similarly silly sound effects on the unlock screen by pressing ZL, ZR, or the control sticks.

5 Ease Eye Strain with Dark Mode

The bright white background can start to strain even the strongest of eyes after a few hours. For a more comfortable viewing experience, especially at night, enable Dark Mode. Go to System Settings > Themes, and choose "Basic Black" to darken the home screen and menus.

6 Move Game Save Data to MicroSD Card

As games get larger, hard drive space becomes more precious. You can free up internal storage by transferring game save data to a microSD card. Once you insert a card of your choice, just head to System Settings > Data Management, and select "Move Data Between System/microSD Card."

7 Pair Bluetooth Headphones

You can enjoy a wireless audio experience on the go by pairing Bluetooth headphones with your Switch. Head to System Settings > Bluetooth Audio, and follow the pairing instructions.

8 Pair Joy-Cons with Other Devices

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